Statement
I make ceramics, works on paper, and functional vessels inspired by indigenous Mexican and Native American visual traditions. My work is primarily wheel thrown, sometimes stacked to produce large forms. I glaze the pieces with vibrant slip and carve patterns into the surface. The repetition of carved shapes not only recalls the complex history of labor and production in Mexican craftwork, but also a sense of progress, meditation, and healing that is only possible over time. Acknowledging these themes is an offering of love to my viewer and to myself.
It is my goal to create a body of work that communicates how we manifest the stories, skills, and sanctity of the generations that came before us.
— Gabo Martinez